In today’s world of global strife relegious fundamentalism tribal discord, terrorism and violence, perhaps the greatest lesson Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans taught us was the lesson of humanity.
His life was full of episodes that were against eastern untouchability and sex discrimination. Embracing all religions, he preached the gospel of love, fraternity and secularism. Moreover with his unique anecdotes and parables, he was able to provide emotional guidance to the common man.
Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans showed immense spiritual potential from his very childhood. Even at the tender age of five, he had a burning desire to study the lives of saints. As he grew up he wanted to see the vision of Kali whom he considered as the Divine Mother.
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He wanted to surrender himself unto her, merge his ego in her will and become her instrument. As his realisation deepened the vision of the Divine Mother became luminous while he was the priest of Dakshineshwar Temple in Kolkata. He would enter into deep trances and loose consciousness just to seek the truth.
From his vast and varied metaphysical expenses, Sri Ramkrishna dispensed to his disciples the very essence of spirituality. According to him character formation was essential to earn true spirituality, the results of which would follow naturally.
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His favourite illustration was when the lotus opens, the bees come of their own accord to seek honey so let the lotus of your character be full blown and the results will follow.
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He felt that overcoming vices like greed lust and anger and renunciation of materialistic pleasures were the steps towards character building as a follow up, he foresaw the need for good theatre in order to educate and mentally cleanse the masses. In this respect he urged Girish Ghosh a stalwart of Bengali theatre, to produce and direct plays based on spiritual themes.
Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa was against casteism and untouchability Sri. Ram Krishna Paramhansa had the great admiration for the virtues of various religions. So he met Mohammeden, Christian and Jewish saints and learnt that religion does not consist in erecting temples or building churches or mosques but in self-realisation. He also concludes that all religions led to one and finally one path through different tracks. Thus he realised that the truth of all religions was to become a perfect man. He also became Parmanhansa the highest yogi. He said “Religions are neither contradictory nor antagonistic.” This is one of the important truths of our great saints that
so called leaders have to learn. Thus he preached religious harmony which is absolutely lacking today.
Sri Paramhans also taught the concept of equality among men. He practised what preached. An example for this is that he would enter the house of an outcast and clean it which was generally considered to be an unholy act. He also received the first bhiksha from a lady in spite of protest during his Brahmo padsem. He did not refuse to perform puja in a temple constructed by a sudra lady.
Sri Ramakrishna principle was “First form character then earn spirituality results will come out of themselves.”
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Sri Ramakrishna was an embodiment. He gave up all his worldly wealth and position. Once he held mud in one hand and gold into other and threw them into Ganga saying that both were same for him and that he cared least for either. He had intense love for others. It was brought his true love for others that he attracted many disciples including Vivekananda. This master disciple relationship was neither for fame nor for name, but for pure love. He once said on who has faith has everything; one who lacks faith lacks everything.” He had the patience to calm down the rebellious outburst of young name.
“Life is monetary. Do not care for doctrines; do not care for dogmas to sects or churches or temples; they count for little compared with the essence of existence in man. Be spiritual and realise the truth for yourself. Criticize no one, for all doctrines and creeds have some good in them. These were words of immortal wisdom uttered by Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Today man has forgotten his divine nature through his growing dependence on material positions and has been reduced to mere money making machine. It is high time we recalled the gospels of Sri Ram Krishna Paramhansa and practice even a bit of it in our lives.
Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansan was born on February 18, 1836 in a poor orthodox Brahmin family in a remote village of Bengal. His original name was Gadadhar. Since he was a Brahmin he refused to become a bookworm without learning spirituality. Once he came across his professors debating over an issue. He realised that they were all doing it for the sake of money only and decided not to study any more first for material advancement. He then went in quest of spiritual knowledge. He taught himself and had his own ideas. He was beginning to learn Adivaita.
Since his father had died and he had to maintain his family he became a priest of temple in Calcutta while conducting the puja, his mind could ask the eternal question whether any true God existed or not. He was filled with Scepticism. His life became concentrated on the existence of the Blessful
Mother (Kali). He became more and thirstier to see and feel God. When at last it becomes impossible for him to serve in the temple, he lifts it and came to a little wood in Dakshineshwar.
There the young Gadhandhar started meditating for day together with only a piece of towel wrapped round his body. He gave up his small bit of property and also never touched money. It is said that his hands would bend if touched with money even while sleeping. He also throws away the sacred thread which was considered to be holy and a must for Brahamchari. He said, he would obstruct his meditation. This shows he was not at all caste minded and was open hearted.
After relentless struggle of days weeks and months; he started seeing various months; he started seeing visitors wonderful things and nature began to unveil, her secrets through a sanyasin. He became totally immersed in the realisation of truth and became mad for God. His mother tried to ward off his madness by getting him married to a five year old Shardha. But Gadadhar said that the mother enlightened him that she resides in every woman and that he would treat every woman as his mother. This shows young Gadadhars respect for women. Shardha was pure and noble soul. She said that she would just serve her husband and learn to become his disciple. It was such a noble soul who saw God when God other came to be known as Ramkrishna.
If we ask ourselves whether he possess some of the virtues of this great son of India, we hardly get any affirmative answer. Virtues like concentration determination and simplicity, confidence, perseverance, selflessness, quest for spiritual knowledge, sense of duty, originality and purity in thoughts, open- mindedness, sincerity and sacrifice and humility were the hall marks of his life. It is certain that if we put his advice into practice and imbibe his virtues we would grow as responsible citizen and become an asset to the country.